How would you like someone to decide which subjects you can choose to learn?

An “education search engine” (their website description) informed me via email today that my courses on shamanism had been removed from their listings, because “courses of a supernatural nature are not permitted”. (They had accepted my listings for Reiki healing and Crystal Healing courses.)

Apart from pointing out that they had evidently misunderstood the nature of the professional training I offer, I was most concerned at this apparent discrimination and asked for clarification.

The company, which describes itself as “the leading education search engine in Europe” replied that:

“The listing of courses in the following subject areas is not permitted:

In my view, if a website purports to be a general, universal “education search engine” then it should list all genuine education courses from professional educational establishments.

However, let us suppose for a moment that they have some genuine, ethical, responsible, rational reason for excluding these subject areas. Then surely the scope and the exclusions should be made clear on the website to inform all users?

I have written to the website admin on these points and we’ll see what happens. Meanwhile next time you are looking for courses to learn more about a subject, and it seems that no-one teaches it, this may be what’s happened…

Update 5 Jan 2010 – Here is the website’s response in full:

“Thank you for your comments on this issue. Please understand that Emagister is a company and as such, we reserve the right to choose which products (in this case, courses) we advertise on our site. Furthermore, as an internet company, we need to analyse and control closely the behaviour of certain keywords and the implications this may on the traffic that reaches our site. The removal of your courses on Shamanism is not discriminatory but discretionary. We apologise for any inconvenice this may cause.”

Recently I was fortunate enough to get one of my favourite kinds of work – a contract to work with a private client, wanting intensive shamanic energy training. Motivated to invest the time and money for an intensive period of practical 1 to 1 training, they benefited and progressed dramatically, acquiring all the skills they wanted and more. I was challenged to meet high specific requirements, to teach a variety of shamanic skills and methods – exactly what I love the most – advanced shamanic energy work with lots of variety, and it didn’t hurt that I was also well paid and got to enjoy some time off in the sun, in between sessions.

Win : win in the best ways – a great experience and collaboration, highly successful outcomes with all goals being exceeded and work well rewarded.

The work and my client’s identity must remain confidential, so suffice it to say that the greatest reward for me, is to know that the skills I teach are going to be put to very good use.

My own favourite way of learning is to find an inspirational teacher, with excellent skills, who is willing to share them fully and as fast as I can absorb them. Given the time and money I like to immerse myself fully in the experience to reach a good level of understanding and skill as soon as possible.

I’m sure many of you feel the same – but often we don’t have both the time and the money available for the luxury of a 1 to 1 apprenticeship or training.

Instead, what I look for in my own development – and what I offer in my own courses – is the most practical solution possible:

Intensive accelerated practical skills training

In 1 complete ‘chunk’ and in the shortest time possible

A teacher who is good at what they do and good at teaching it

Small group size for access to the trainer

The right kind of practical, intensive training saves time and money and you can always read books for theory, background and applications, following training. Following these steps in your chosen area of learning will help you to reach the leading edge of human potential.

Meanwhile I am looking forward to my next great experience – teaching shamanic skills to a small, select group of explorers at the beginning of April… My challenge, and my pleasure, is to help these special people to develop as fast as they can in the ways that they want, to achieve the wonderful work they intend to do…

Imagine you had a plot of land – quite a large plot of land, large enough to build a residential complex and a shopping arcade and a leisure area, perhaps restaurants, gym, leisure centre, green parkland area and other services – A mini residential area with all utilities and lifestyle choices close to hand.

What would you do? How would you design it?

Quality of life, desirability and saleability determine the need for some green areas and attractive landscaping. For similar reasons there must be some facilities and utilities there. Yet this must make a profit, or at least be sustainable. Where do you expect to make the bulk of the funds for this project? From businesses, offices, service industries, residential homes?

You may have nothing to do with building, architecture or town planning – neither do I – but bear in mind all the considerations you have, when you are choosing a desirable place to live.

Surely these places should all be designed with these considerations in mind: would this be a good, balanced community? Would I myself want to live here? (At the appropriate stage: young single, professional, married with children, retired…) How would you design a balanced community, bearing in mind what already exists, surrounding, and perhaps ‘zoning’ areas accordingly? Would it make sense to have quieter, easily accessible areas for the older part of the population, and a student/young people’s noisier, area, with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, away from residential areas.

If so, then such a design must also take account of transport and services needed to take people to and from the areas they wish to use?

All these considerations, involve an internal community harmony. There is another level of consideration too – harmony within the landscape. Doesn’t it make sense to take into account the natural shape of the land and the resources and natural building materials that are present? If you do not take account of the land, for example – if you do not allow for flood/river drainage, you can end up with serious damage to your homes and buildings.

This whole ‘hypothetical’ discussion is all about planning holistically, in harmony with all around you. And just because it has all been done before, does not mean it was done right, nor that there is not room for fresh ideas, for reviewing the past and renovating for the future.

Surely it is time to take advantage of new developments, new technologies and a new age of fresh minds, to design better communities to live and work in, sustainably, for the future.

For example: if we are concerned about global warming, diminishing resources, increasing populations and other ‘modern ills’ we should be thinking about costing better heating and lighting solutions into new developments and redevelopments. We should be finding better, more harmonious ways of using space, new ways of creating and enjoying community space.

And yes, governments, town planners, builders and architects are concerning themselves with these matters. My point is that more people need to take an active part and to respond to invitations to comment and to participate in the way their own local town, city or community is moving forward.

Why am I writing about this as a shaman, healer and energy worker? Because I believe that shamanism is actually a very practical concern. It has to do with the spiritual wellbeing and health of the community, and this is greatly affected by where and how people live. Traditionally, in Hawaii, their shamans (kahunas) were traditionally the ‘people of knowledge’ and they each had their own specialties. Some had to do with the spirit world and magical realms, but equally there were shamans whose expertise was in hunting, fishing, agriculture and community building.

It seems to me that 21st century healers, energy workers and shamans tend to float about with ‘energy tools’, ‘angelic guides’ and good intent, flowing positive energies into the land. For one thing, this is a remedial approach – trying to go round and fix energetically what has become out of balance. For another thing, many of them do not take the time to notice, respect and harmonise with what is already there. They bring their own practices and tools and ‘do their energy thing’ instead of taking the time to sense the bigger picture and work practically and in harmony.

I’d like more ‘energy workers’ to bring their practices ‘down to earth’ in practical ways. And I’d like everyone else to discover and integrate their latent shamanic energy abilities. Then we can all be shamans and live in harmony and balance with each other and the natural world around us.

Are we bored enough with the credit crunch yet? Have we suffered enough for our rash wild materialism? If so, maybe we can leave all this behind at the end of 2008 and dream up a new, more sustainable way of being for 2009.

It only takes enough people to start thinking and acting in creative, positive ways.
It only takes enough people to decide they’ve had enough of this negative phase and it’s time for a positive change.
It only takes enough people to believe things can be different and start to take action.

Become part of a new flow of finance, economy and trade – make wiser choices, hold in mind your core values, be part of new solutions.

Part of the art of shamanic dreaming is to look ahead and envision a better way forward for the community – everything starts from an idea, a dream, a vision.

I’ve been busy writing my newsletter today to announce new courses for spring 2009 – if you’ve not yet subscribed and want to see my most recent updates first, you can sign up at www.bronze-dragon.com

I’ve been channeling new information, delivering advanced shamanic, crystal and dreaming trainings to private groups and working on shamanic projects. It’s great to be so busy, but now I really need to get the word out so that more people can get involved. I’m just not getting enough time to keep up with emails, Facebook and updating the Bronze Dragon website never mind getting the word out about new courses and projects.

If anyone has good ideas on how I can streamline all this writing and get it done faster, DO let me know!

‘The universe moves in mysterious ways’ – I’ve heard it and thought it frequently, but this year’s Shamanix practitioner experience beats all. For those who read that life’s challenges had prevented four applicants from making it to the training, here’s what happened next…

…At first nothing, and I was ready to be there with a very small group, but then new people appeared, unexpectedly, each with their own challenges to meet in order to make it possible, and right up to the last minute some of them were still rearranging their lives to be there.

It has been a challenging year for myself, as for most people, but this week has made everything worth it for me. I knew we were in for something special when I realised the quality, skills and integrity of the group, and all of us grew through the new teachings and the experience of working together shamanically.

This experience reaffirmed for me that the sum is greater than the parts – it is time for shamans, healers and all energy workers to transform this world together.

Do you learn shamanic knowledge best from a teacher or direct from the Source – whatever that may be…?

Do you choose traditional teachings, and if so, which tradition?

Maori, Hawaiian, Siberian, North or South American, African, Australian, European?

Do you choose a tradition you feel ‘drawn’ to?

Here is how it is for me – there’s a time and a place for both kinds of teaching and they can support and confirm each other:

If I choose to learn from a teacher, (having found out something of their background, training and experience), I bear in mind that they (and I) are human.

They will be teaching from the best of their ability, from their training and experience and in the light of their values and beliefs and these may be different from mine. So:

My aim is to learn ‘how to’ details, so that I can follow the instructions, practice as long as necessary and test the results for myself.

The whys and wherefores: beliefs, theories etc., are interesting background and material to consider. If they are ‘essential’ to learn or do something, I want to know why, and then what I would need to do and for how long, in order to have direct experience/ confirmation of this.

If I choose to learn from spirit guides, plants, animals, minerals etc., then I still want to know their provenance. I still want to know ‘how to’ so I can test it and why, so I can consider it.

If I choose to learn through my own activities and experiences, I have to bear in mind my own filters, blind spots, level of experience and human characteristics.

Coming back to shamanic teachings and different traditions – I think there are universal principles and practices to shamanic work, and there are specific belief systems, traditions and practices. In my view the latter belong to the specific culture, tradition, society and location on the planet where they originate and in most cases this is the only place where they are truly fitting and relevant. Therefore I teach the underlying and universal principles, which can be used by anyone and fitted into their own belief and value systems.